Ideal Beater Bike

[GoldOxide_imp]

you don't want to buy a beater you are tempted to pamper

I owned a Maxim 650 that was weather-beaten, sun-faded and a bit crusty. But, the rubber components were good, the seat had no cracks or tears, no dents in the tank - but there were fine scratches. I did the routine maintenance and the bike never let me down. I never had to wash it because it was naturally weathered. Rode it for several years and sold it for the same price I bought it for. Insurance? ... just did the liability. Nobody wants to steal an old Maxim.

My 2 cents ...
[ul] [li]2014 Honda Forza 300: Suitable for suburban and urban mule runs. Truly "hop 'n' go" experience. Bullet proof thumper, cheap on dino, cheap to own. Some protection from the [road] elements. Freeway worthy for inter-city distances. Lots of under seat storage. Who doesn't like built-in storage? Of the bunch, probably the most usable in snow conditions.[/li] [li] '82/'83 Yamaha 650 Maxim: Super cheap to acquire, workhorse engine and good general construction. Comfortable seat, shaft drive, no fuss inline-4 and a 5-speed mule. Style is not bad, looks good dirty, and has usable power. It is a bit buzzy at freeway speeds.[/li] [li](+1) on the Honda CB500X. Probably the best lookin' of this lot.[/li] [li]I am thinking a used late model Kawasaki Versys 650 LT. Pricier of the bunch on this list, but used price should be attractive compared to other brands. The bike is quite versatile, but generally a more friendly ride for long legged owners. Good for long range riding and rough roads.
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Very interesting suggestion. I'm not an irrational scooter snob. This is viable if the objective is to get out there on two wheels by whatever means necessary.

My 2 cents ...
[ul] [li]2014 Honda Forza 300: Suitable for suburban and urban mule runs. Truly "hop 'n' go" experience. Bullet proof thumper, cheap on dino, cheap to own. Some protection from the [road] elements. Freeway worthy for inter-city distances. Lots of under seat storage. Who doesn't like built-in storage? Of the bunch, probably the most usable in snow conditions.[/li] [li] '82/'83 Yamaha 650 Maxim: Super cheap to acquire, workhorse engine and good general construction. Comfortable seat, shaft drive, no fuss inline-4 and a 5-speed mule. Style is not bad, looks good dirty, and has usable power. It is a bit buzzy at freeway speeds.[/li] [li](+1) on the Honda CB500X. Probably the best lookin' of this lot.[/li] [li]I am thinking a used late model Kawasaki Versys 650 LT. Pricier of the bunch on this list, but used price should be attractive compared to other brands. The bike is quite versatile, but generally a more friendly ride for long legged owners. Good for long range riding and rough roads.
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Looks-wise, the Maxim has it by a mile! I really like it! Maybe almost too much...I'd be tempted to pamper it.

Yeah, the Maxim 650 is a bit of a sex machine.

The successors, the Maxim 700 and Maxim 750X were even hotter. The 750X is really not a beater candidate, but more of a 105 hp collectible. It has a 20 valve inline-4.